Fabian, 1291. Rapin, P. 378. Note 8. Coke's 2d P. 741.. 20. A. D. 1291. In this xix of Edward I. the Kinge ordayned, That all woll whiche fhuld be fold unto Straungers fhuld be brought unto Sandewiche, where the Staple thereof long after was. 21. A. D. 1296. The Cuftom of Wool was raised by the King's fole Power from twenty to forty Shillings a Bag. (Walfing. p. 69.) But this being juftly deemed a Grievance, gave Occafion to the following Statute, viz. A Release of Toll taken by the King for Wool, and a 6 6 Grant theyr Marchaundize were lodged within the Cytezins of the Cytie of London, and fold all theyr Marchandyfes by the procurynge of his Hooft. For the which his fayd Hooft had a certayne of every lib. By meanes of the fayd Marchauntes Straungers it was brought to paffe, that they might hire to them Houfes for to dwell in, and for Stowage of their Wares. By meane whereof they used many Difceytes both in the Utteraunce of falfe Wares, and alfo by their Weyghts, which they used in theyr own Houfes to the greate Hurt of the hole Realme of Englande. Wherefore fodaynly Searche was made, and theyr Weyghtes found, and provyd falfe. And over that all fuch Wares as they fhulde have weyed at the Kynges Beame, they weyed moche thereof in theyre fayd Houles, to the Hynderaunce of the Kinges Cuftomes. For whych ⚫ Offences agayne them provyd, to the Nombre of xx of the fayd Straungers were arreftyd, and fent unto the Toure of London, and theyr Weyghtes brent and confumed in Weftchepe of London, the Thursdaye before the Feafte of Simon and Jude. And fynallie the fayd Mar'chauntes were delivered by Fyne makynge to the Kynge of a Thousande Poundes, when they had fuffered by a • Seafon harde and vyle Pryfonement. It is difficult to determine, tho' not very material to know, at this Distance of Time, whether this happened through any real Crimes of these foreign Merchants, or whether it was the Effect of Indignation only in the Citizens of London conceived against them for the Lofs of their Brokage; however, In the 18th Year of Edward the Ift, [viz. A. D. 1289] in the Parliament-Roll it is contained thus, Cives London petunt quod Alienigena Mercatores expellantur a Civitate, quia ditantur ad Depauperationem Civium, &c. Refponfio. Rex intendit quod Mercatores extranei funt idonei & utiles Magnatibus, &c. & non habet Confilium "eas expellendi.' Grant that he will not take the fame without common Con- * 22. In the 26th of Edward I. there was payable to Madox, the King for Cuftoms, for every Sack of Wool carried P. 535. out of the Port of Len, half a Mark; for every 300 Pelles lanuta, half a Mark. The King appointed Hugh de Maffingham and Ranulph le Ken to collect and receive the faid Cuftoms at Len; and a Writ iffued to the Sheriffs of [the Counties of] Cambridge, Huntingdon, Nottingham, Derby, Bedford, Bucks, Warwick, Leicester, Rutland and Norfolk, commanding them to make Proclamation, that all Merchants in their feveral Baly wicks fhould carry Merchandizes of that fort to Len. In like manner Cuftomers were appointed for the several Towns or Ports of Newcastle upon Tyne, Kingston upon Hull, Bofton, Yarmouth, Ipfwich, Southampton, Bristol and London. The Mayor of London, and other Citizens, in Obedience to the King's Order, caufed a Scale to be made for weighing of Wools. They brought it to the Barons of the Exchequer, affuring them it had been examined and approved by the Scale [or Beam] which was ufed for weighing the Wools in London. The Treafurer and Barons ftraightway delivered it to William de Barton, to be carried to Hugh de Maffingham and Ranulph le Ken, Commiffioners of the King's Cuftoms of Wools and Leathers at Len, to be used there for weighing the Wools exported. And they delivered the faid William Cz in And for fo much as the more Part of the Commo'nalty of the Realm, find themselves fore aggrieved with 'the Maletent of Wools, that is, to wit, a Toll of XL Shillings for every Sack of Wool: and have made Petition to us to release the fame. WE at their Requests have ' clearly released it, and have granted for us and our Heirs, ⚫ that we shall not take fuch Things without their common +Affent and good Will, faving to us and our Heirs, the ⚫ Cuftom of Wools, &c. granted before by the Commonal⚫ty aforefaid. In Witnefs whereof, we have caufed these ⚫ our Letters to be made Patents ||.' That is, by the common Affent of the Realm by Autho rity of Parliament." Alts of Parliament are many times paffed in the Form · of Charters or Letters Patents,' Coke's zd Institutes, P. 525-6. in a Purse, sealed with the Exchequer Seal, the Seals appointed to be used by the faid Cuftomers, for the Cocket, in cuftoming the Wools and Leathers at Len; who was to convey them to the faid Hugh and Ranulph. 23. A. D. 1297. About this Time* the CommuP. 537. nity of the Realm granted to the King, in Aid of his Wars against France, the Custom or Duty of 40s. for every Sack of Wool for two or three Years, if the War lafted fo long. And at the fame time the King granted, that he would take no Custom of the Community without their common Affent . . . . . faving to the King and his Heirs, the Cuftom of Wools granted to him by the Community before that Time. Chron. 24. A. D. 1298. At Scarborough in Yorkshire the pret. p.65. Price of a Sheep 1 d. Madox, Chron. + The King releafed to the Community of the Realm the Cuftom or Subfidy of 40 s. and thereupon commanded the Cuftodes of his faid Cuftoms in the feveral Ports of England to forbear receiving the fame, and likewise commanded the Sheriffs of the feveral Counties to make Proclamation in their Bailywicks, That all Merchants and others, who defigned to export Wools, Woolfels and Leathers, might fafely carry them to the feveral Ports, where the King had a Cocket, paying the old Duties only, viz. half a Mark for every Sack of Wool, &c. 25. A. D. 1299. This Year was made an A&t of pret.p.66. Common Council for Prices of Victuals to be fold at London by Confent of the King and Nobility, viz. a fat Lamb from Christmas to Shrovetide, 1 s. 4 d. The fame for all the Year after at 4 d. Madox, P. 537. Rapin, P. 380. 1302. In Dugdale's Hiftory of St. Paul's (p. 32.) a fat Mutton at 1 s. an Ewe at 8 d. 1309. Will. Thorn (inter decem Scriptores) among other things, notes it as an extravagant Price given, upon the Occafion of an Inftallation Feaft, for 200 Muttons, 301. viz. 3 s. per Head. 26. In the ninth Year of Edward II. these Customs were payable to the King, viz. for every Sack of Wool carried *Edward forms a League against France (1297.) In order to gain the Affections of his Subjects, Edward called a Parliament, and of his own accord confirmed the great Charter, &c. which had a very good Effect upon the People.' carried out of the Port of Bristol, half a Mark. And if Merchants defrauded the King of his Customs, they forfeited their Goods uncustomed. The Treasurer and Barons caufed Inquifitions to be taken in all maritime Places about the Concealment of the King's Customs for Wool, &c. and to be returned into the Exchequer. — A Writ iffued out of the Exchequer for arrefting the Wools of certain foreign and English Merchants exported uncuftomed. Ralph de Dalton and John de Aflagby were ordered to arrest them. 27. A. D. 1315. A very grievous Famine in Eng- Rapin, land, which lafted three Years, and deftroyed an infinite p. 393. Number of People. The Parliament endeavoured to Note 4. help it by fettling the Price of Provifions, but in vain. Chron. They enacted, that a fat Weather or Mutton unfhorn pret. P.72. fhould not be fold for more at the most than 20 d. and fhorn for 14 d. 28. All Staples fhall cease, and Merchants may come in and go out with their Merchandizes. 3 Edw. III. c. 9.* 29. Sundry Merchants of Brabant were arrested by Pryn's the English Merchants for Wools taken up to the Ufe of Records, the Duke of Brabant; at which Duke's Requeft the King 5 Ed. III. requireth that all the English Merchants do appear before the Council, and abide further Order therein. P. S. As the State of the English Silver Coin underwent many Alterations between the 28th of Edward I. and the 43d of Elizabeth; and as Silver is the common Meafure of the Price of all things; and as the Quantity of Silver in every Coin, not the Denomination, is the true Meafure of its Value, in Commerce efpecially; fo it is thought proper to infert here the following Table; by turning to which, the Reader, as often as he meets with any Mention of the Price of Wool in that long Period, will be able to fee C 3 how *It is enacted, That the Staples beyond the Sea, and ⚫ on this Side, ordained by Kings in Times paft, and the Pains thereupon provided, fhall ceafe. And that all Merchants, Strangers and Privy, may go and come with their ⚫ Merchandizes into England, after the Tenor of the great Charter (9 Hen. III. c. 30.) And that Writs thereupon fhall be fent to all Sheriffs of England, and to Mayors and Bailiffs of good Towns, where Need fhall require.' how much of our prefent Silver Coin that Price is equal to, and fo to make the Comparison, in that respect, between farmer and latter Times. One Shilling contained of fine Silver, And fo it has remained to this Day. (Mr. Lowndes's Extract from the Mint, p. 69.) Rapin, P. 414. Note 1. CHAP. V. An Abstract from Records, Hiftory, and the A. D. 1331. This Year the Art of weaving Woolen Cloth was brought from Flanders into England by John Kemp, to whom the King granted his Protection, |